'I fear that,' - Skip Bayless worries Jerry Jones could trade up to No. 3 for Jeremiyah Love

The Dallas Cowboys received a major warning about their upcoming draft strategy, as veteran sports commentator Skip Bayless expressed serious concern. He believes owner Jerry Jones is plotting a massive trade with the Arizona Cardinals for the No. 3 overall pick to draft a flashy offensive weapon rather than addressing a broken defense.

Rather than plugging the glaring holes in a unit that bled points last season, the fear is that Dallas will mortgage its future for a luxury skill player.

This potential blockbuster move matters because the Cowboys are desperate to snap a three-decade Super Bowl drought, with their last championship dating back to January 1996. With quarterback Dak Prescott turning 33 this summer and a championship window that feels like it is rapidly closing, Jones is under immense pressure to cement his legacy.

Dallas already boasts a high-octane offense featuring CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Jalen Tolbert, but lacks a premier, Emmitt Smith-caliber bell-cow in the backfield. However, ignoring a defense that plummeted to 30th overall last season could prove disastrous for their playoff hopes.

1. The Allure of a Touchdown Machine

The intense speculation surrounding this draft-day maneuver was sparked by Bayless during a recent appearance on “The Arena: Gridiron” show. Evaluating the team’s needs, Bayless explicitly named Notre Dame standout Jeremiyah Love as the apple of Jones’ eye. “They should [draft defense], but I fear that on Draft night, Jerry Jones will trade up with Arizona at No. 3 and take Jeremiyah Love,” Bayless told his audience, perfectly capturing the anxiety of a fanbase that knows its owner’s penchant for box-office selections.

2. The Steep Cost of Doing Business with Arizona

But securing Love will not come cheap, and that is exactly where the Arizona Cardinals enter the equation. Sitting pretty at the No. 3 spot, Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort holds the keys to the draft board. If the Cowboys stay put at No. 12, Love is almost guaranteed to be snatched up by running back-needy teams like the Tennessee Titans at No. 4, or scooped by the Commanders or Bengals shortly after. To leapfrog the competition, Dallas would likely have to package its two first-round picks—No. 12 and No. 20 (acquired via the Packers). Looking at the traditional Jimmy Johnson draft value chart, the No. 3 pick is worth 2,200 points. The Cowboys’ No. 12 (1,200 points) and No. 20 (850 points) only add up to 2,050. To make the math work, Dallas would likely need to throw in their third-round pick (No. 92) to get Ossenfort to pick up the phone.

3. Neglecting the Defensive Trenches

Giving up that much premium draft capital is a terrifying proposition for a team that desperately needs foundational pieces on defense. The Cowboys could easily sit tight at No. 12 and No. 20 and draft elite pass rushers or shutdown corners to rebuild a unit that has looked completely lost without Parsons. Top defensive prospects like Texas Tech’s David Bailey, Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr., or Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles are projected to fall right into that range. Yet, Jones has historically favored the sizzle over the steak. He is an owner who loves a flashy pick like a moth loves a neon sign, prioritizing jersey sales and offensive fireworks over the gritty, unglamorous work of building a defensive trench. The Cowboys’ blueprint has always featured a dominant ground game, from Ezekiel Elliott and DeMarco Murray back to the glory days of Emmitt Smith. Two years ago, the fanbase heavily criticized the front office for passing on free agent Derrick Henry. Now, Jones seems determined not to let another game-changing back slip through his fingers. As the draft clock ticks down, the entire NFL landscape is bracing for chaos in the first round. Will Jones listen to the better angels in his scouting department and let the board fall to him, stocking up on much-needed defensive talent with his two first-rounders? Or will the allure of a 42-touchdown superstar be too intoxicating to resist? We will find out exactly what the Cowboys value most when they are officially on the clock next Thursday night.

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